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Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South)-MDC-T’s Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC’s Welshman Ncube signed an MOU recently by which they agreed to start negotiating over a possible coalition in the 2018 elections.

Below is the complete draft of the MOU

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ALLIANCE

(hereinafter referred to as the MOU) between The Movement for Democratic Change –T (hereinafter referred to as “MDC-T”) Represented herein by Dr. M. Tsvangirai in his  capacity as the President of MDC-T (hereinafter referred to as MT) and The Movement for Democratic Change  (hereinafter referred to as “MDC”) Represented herein by Prof. W Ncube in his capacity as the President of MDC (hereinafter referred to as WN) (hereinafter MT and WN as a collective will be referred to as “the Principals) (Jointly referred to as the parties) To democratically win power and embark on a transformational agenda that will resolve the challenges faced by Zimbabwe

PREAMBLE

This MOU is entered into in good faith with each Party accepting its important task and leadership role and the historic responsibility to deliver the country out of the current economic, political and social crisis and therefore to exercise respect, determination and accommodation in pursuit of the objective of this MOU.

WHEREAS the said parties have agreed to seek to work together by combining their strengths, common history, values and principles.

AND WHEREAS the Parties have agreed to jointly harness their respective skills and experience to establish a framework for an alliance and a government policy agenda with specific reference to the 2018 scheduled harmonized general elections to be held in Zimbabwe.

PURSUANT TO THIS UNDESTANDING the parties have agreed to establish a framework for negotiations as follows:

ARTICLE 1

Purpose of the MOU

1.1 The purpose and essence of the MOU is for the parties to explore the feasibility of entering into a political cooperation alliance agreement on terms and conditions to be negotiated and agreed.

1.2 Each party shall maintain its identity and independence.

1.3 Each party reserves the right to simultaneously pursue discussions and negotiations with other political parties for the establishment of a broad political alliance and / or coalition for the achievement of the same purposes and objectives as herein contained.

ARTICLE 2

Negotiation Teams

2.1Each party will appoint two representatives to the negotiating team with each party designating one of the two as the chief negotiator

ARTICLE 3

AGENDA FOR NEGOTIATIONS

3.1 The negotiating teams will develop a framework of political cooperation between the two parties on four broad areas namely:

3.1.1 2018 Electoral alliance terms, framework and management

3.1.2 Broadening coalition building to include such parties and/ or coalitions which the parties may agree to add value to the objective of winning power democratically.

3.1.3 2018 Post 2018 election framework of government

3.1.4 2018 Post 2018 Government programmes and policy agenda

ARTICLE 4

OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES

The Parties shall have the following obligations;

4.1 to keep all information on proceedings, meetings, venues and documentation confidential and secure

4.2 To restrict all public communication with respect to this process to the

Principals

4.3 To sustain a common understanding on all issues before any agreement is made

4.4 To disclose any and all matters which are known to the leadership of the parties and which might or are likely to be used, in particular by the ruling party to undermine and discredit any alliance or coalition that may be born out of the processes herein agreed.

ARTICLE 5

THE PROCESS

5.1 The negotiating parties will follow a five stage process to ensure full participation and accountability

1. Negotiation and signing of the MOU
2. Detailed development of the Agenda by the Negotiators including time frames and milestones

iii. Substantive negotiations

1. Principals Engagement and Endorsement
2. Ratification of agreement by the respective party organs
3. Signing of the political agreement by the Principals

5.2 At any point in this process the parties may agree in writing to expand the negotiating processes to other political parties and/ or coalition groupings and if they do so necessary changes will be made.

ARTICLE 6

IMPASSE MANAGEMET

6.1 Impasse within the negotiating team will be referred to the Principals for guidance

6.2 Reverse impasse management: if there are any areas of dispute identified at Principals level, but having been agreed to at Negotiating Team level, the Principals shall refer such areas back to the Negotiating Team for reconsideration.

6.3 In the event that Principals fail to agree on any issue referred to them after following the provisions of 6.1 and 6.2 above then either party can exercise their right to terminate the MOU by giving the other party 7 days’ notice.

ARTICLE 7

Non-Exclusivity

7.1 The parties agree that this MOU does not preclude either party from seeking, negotiating and making MOUs and agreements with other parties and organisations for the same or similar purposes that advance their political objectives as guided by their respective organs either before or during the currency of this MOU.

ARTICLE 8

COSTS

8.1 The Parties shall meet their own costs and share any common costs equally for the execution of the MOU.

ARTICLE 9

DURATION AND TERMINATION

9.1 This MOU shall come into force on the date of signature by both Parties and shall subsist until an agreement is reached and executed and / or the MOU is terminated in terms of Article 5.3 above

9.2 The MOU may also be terminated by either party at any time by giving 7 days notice.

ARTICLE 10

VARIATION OR AMENDMENT

10.1 This MOU may be amended or varied in writing by the Parties and such amendment shall enter into force after signature by the authorized representatives of the Parties.

ARTICLE 11

Values Governing the Negotiations

1. Inclusivity
2. Mutuality

iii. Compromise

1. Transparency without compromising the bigger picture
2. Honesty
3. Trust

vii. Independence of the parties

viii.Shared information

1. Creativity and Innovativeness

ARTICLE 12

Domicilium Citandi Et Executandi

All notices and communications shall strictly be between the offices of the Principals or their designated agents at the following addresses:

MDC-T: No…………………………………………………………………

Street Name…………………………………………….………..

Town………………………………………………………………

Province……………………………………………..…………..

Country…………………………………………..………………

MDC:

…………………………

Street Name

…………………………………..……………..

Town……Harare……………………………………..…………………

Province……Harare……………………………………..……………..

Country……Zimbabwe………………………………………….…………

Signed on this……….. day month……………….year 2017 in Harare

For MDC-T

Dr M.R. Tsvangirai………………………………………………………………

Witness……………………………………………………………………………..

Signed on this…………day month…………….. year 2017 in Harare

For MDC

Prof. W Ncube………………………………………………………………………

Witness…………………………………………………………………………………

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